Eight Lessons

8 Lessons Every Probation Officer Learns (or should learn!)

Lesson #1: There is a culture in many segments of society that says, do not cooperate with law enforcement. It is Us versus Them.  It's not just on the enforcement aspect, I sense this when dealing with some drug rehab programs.  They seem to make things more difficult and are slower to respond to contact from probation.  One of my coworkers was refused a tour by staff.


Lesson #2: “Us” takes care of our own business. Never let “Them” tell you what to do, when to do it, or how to do it.  We are in a politically correct society gone awry.  There may be times you are forced to make decisions based on this, but always do what your moral compass tells you is the right thing to do. 

Lesson #3: No matter how much wailing and pleas to “stop the killing” the culture will not violate lessons two and three.   If you help law enforcement, you're a "snitch."  But law enforcement isn't doing what they supposed to by stopping all the crime and killing...

Lesson #4: This is an important one – lessons #1 through #3 have nothing to do with race. These lessons are not unique to any one ethnic or racial group, or economical status. Across the board, police officers hear repeatedly two statements: “I don’t know nothing about nothing.” And, “I really don’t want to get involved.” This seems truest at homicide scenes.  It doesn't matter where you work or who it is, the culture is imbedded and reinforced through the media, music, etc.

Lesson #5: If you don’t have live witnesses to take the stand you don’t have a case.  How many people on your caseload have been a witness to a crime?  And how do you advise them the proceed?  It is a difficult call, because they still have to live in the community and they will have to deal with the thug culture retaliating. 

Lesson #6: Everybody lies to law enforcement.  If you don't realize and acknowledge that your probationers act differently in your office than they do when they are in the community, then you need to take a step back and open your eyes.  They will lie at every turn that they think they can.  And this also applies to the ones that are doing "good," that have jobs and are finishing school, etc.  It applies to normally law abiding citizens that aren't on probation.  Make sure to ask questions that you already know the answers to. 

Lesson #7: When you lie to your probation officer, there are consequences.  You need to hold people accountable to help them to change.  And the consequences don't always have to mean jail.  Make them applicable to the situation.

Lesson #8: People will disregard lessons #1 through #7 to save their own butts.  Having worked in roles that dealt with some pretty serious criminals, the ones that involve the people that most are afraid of, most people will cooperate or "snitch" if they are caught dead to rights and feel they can do it with minimal risk of being exposed.  You will encounter those people on your caseloads that are working for a police officer to avoid further prosecution or because the money is good.


Be safe!!
P. O. Doe

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